Rape, arson and assault reports double in Wigan in two years

Rape, assault and arson are among the crimes that have doubled in the borough in the past two years, alarming new figures reveal.

Shocking data recently released by the Home Office has highlighted a huge surge over the past two years in crimes such as arson, assault without injury, rape and causing public fear, alarm or distress.

Wigan police chiefs have blamed a cut in officers for the increase in certain crimes in the borough.

The Government numbers, taken from recorded crimes within Community Safety Partnership (CSP) areas, shows that these serious crimes have rocketed in just 48 months but also portray a smaller, but still significant, increase in less serious offences such as burglary, shoplifting and criminal damage.